(L to r) ben wang, jackie chan and ralph macchio in columbia pictures ‘karate kid: legends’. Photo: Jonathan Wenk. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.
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‘Karate Kid: Legends’ receives 5 out of 10 stars.
Opening in theaters on may 30th is’Karate Kid: Legends‘, which combines characters from bot the original’Karate Kid‘Movie as well as the 2010 remake and was Directed by Jonathan Entwistle (‘Hello Tomorrow!,
Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio Reprise their franchise roles as Mr. Han and Daniel Larusso, Respected, and Are Joined by Ben wang ,American Born Chinese, Sadie Stanley ,Someweere in Queens, Joshua jackson ,Fringe‘), and Ming-na wen ,The mandalorian,
Related Article: ‘American Born Chinese’ Star Ben Wang Cast in New ‘Karate Kid’
Initial thoughts
Ben wang in columbia pictures ‘karate kid: legends’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
Coming off the heels of the extramely popular Netflix Series’Cobra Kai ‘The principal of a new ‘karate kid’ movie was quite welcomed. Especially when news came that film would feature ralph macchio reprising his role as daniel larusso from the original series and jackie channel HAN from the 2010 Remake, which is now cannon to the entry franchise. However, the result is a misguided and painted familyia story that does very little to continue the legacy of the franchise.
The bright spots in an otherwise forgettable film are ben wang and sadie stanley’s performance as li fong and mia lipani, respectively. The two young actors lead the film quite well and have a strong chemistry toge. But the movie suffers from a lac of any strong antagonists, and a bizarre subplot involving li teaching mia’s father (Joshua jackson) kung fu for a boxing match (what?) Shark Who also Happens to be the sensei of li’s rival.
The movie tries too hard to retcon mr. Han into the Original Franchise, Going as far as a Scene from ‘The Karate Kid Part II’ to explain that that Mr. Miyagi (PAT Morita) and Mr. HAN WERE Always Offscreen Friends. Chan does not even appear in the film as much as advertised, and macchio’s role is noting more than a glorified cameo, leading the movie to feel more like a standalone sequel to the restrael Franchise.
Story and Direction
(L to r) Jackie Chan, Ben Wang and Ralph Macchio in Columbia Pictures ‘Karate Kid: Legends’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
As Previously mentioned, the film begins with a flashback to ‘The kare kid part Ii’, where Mr. Miyagi (The Late Morita) explains the history of miyagi karate to Daniel Larusso (Macchio) and how it Evently Made Its Way To China and Was Integrated With Kung Fu. The story then moves to present day china, where li fong (wang) is studying at mr. HAN’s (Chan) Kung Fu Academy and is Hidding from His mother (Ming-Na Wen). Li recently Lost his older brother due to fighting, and therefore his mother wants Him to stop training, especially after she gives heim the news that they are moving to new york fitted.
Once in New York, Li Gives Up Kung Fu, But Quickly FindsAramis Knight)After He Befriends His Ex-Girlfriend Mia (Stanley). Mia’s Father (Jackson), Who Owns a Local Pizza Shop and is a Former Boxer, Owes Money to Connor’s Sensei, and Asks Li to Train Him in Kung Fu So He Can Compete in A Boxing Match and Scany Hee Needs. But when his opponent cheats, mia’s father is synt to the hospital and li decides to enter the five boroughs tournament, aganst his mother’s wishes, so he can win the money need and have his revival Connor.
Ben wang in columbia pictures ‘karate kid: legends’. Photo: Jonathan Wenk. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.
Mr. Han Travels to New York and Meets with Li’s mother to convince her to let li compe in the contest. Once she agrees, han visits daniel larusso at mr. Miyagi’s house in California to Ask Him to Help Train Li. It is revised that miyagi and han wonds, and miyagi had told han about daniel and their life changing friendship. Daniel reluctly agrees and begins teaching li karate, while han teachs Him kung fu. But now, li must come to terms with his brother’s death and use the knowledge han and larusso have taught Him so he can overcome his fears and win the tournament.
Fans of ‘Cobra Kai’ Hoping for a big screen version of the popular TV series will be very disappointed by ‘Karate Kid: Legends’. In fact, the film is more like a sequel to 2010’s ‘the karate kid’ with a storyline that is basically the same as the original movie. The film also tries to flip the script in the second act, having li train mia’s father, which goes nowre and just confuses the main plot. The relationship between li and mia is solid, and so is the “Fish out of water” aspect of li’s character, but the movie never really capitalizes on either, changing the Focus to Han and Bihar in the third act.
Ben wang in columbia pictures ‘karate kid: legends’. Photo: Jonathan Wenk. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.
On paper, the idea of making the 2010 remake cannon and combining the han and larusso characters into one movie seems promising, but in PRACTICE It Falls Short. The film tries too hard to retone han into the original franchise, and his sudden history with mr. Miyagi seems forced. Jackie Chan is good in the role, but I wish more time was spent focusing on his relationship to li, raather than reintroducing daniel and exploring his shared history with Miyagi. In Fact, Ralph Macchio is not in Much of the movie at all, basically related to a glorified cameoo, and the character deserves better.
Jonathan Entwistle’s Direction is average, and with amazing settings like new york city and beijing, he does not make to make those locations look In fact, there are several time when it becomes glaringly clear that they are shooting on a soundstage and not nyc. And for a movie in the ‘karate kid’ franchise, I was shocked by how boring and uninspiring the martial arts sequences. Entwistle does nothing to elevate theSE Scenes or Bring Style to the fight sequences.
(L to r) joshua jackson and ben wang in columbia pictures ‘karate kid: legends’. Photo: Jonathan Wenk. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.
Finally, several subplots were complete unneeded, such as training mia’s father for a boxing match, li’s turmoil over the loss of his brother, mr. Han’s Connection to Mr. Miyagi, and his recruitment of daniel. Not to mention a disappointing cameo by William zabka As Johnny Lawrence, which is played for laughs and not enough to win over ‘cobra kai’ fans.
Cast and performances
(L to r) Jackie Chan and Ben Wang in Columbia Pictures ‘Karate Kid: Legends’. Photo: Jonathan Wenk. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.
‘American Born Chinese’ Star Ben Wang Makes The Most of His Big Screen Lead Debut and Carries the film very well. As li, he brings confidence and charm to the role and works well off chan, macchio, and the rest of the cast. He is also the best thing about the otherwise poorly directed martial arts sequences and is quite believable and like in the role.
Besides Wang, Actress Sadie Stanley, Last Seen in the Ray Romano Directed Film ‘Somewhere in Queens’, is the best thing in ‘legends’. She also brings a charming confidence to her role as mia and has great chemistry with wang. While at times the screenplay does the actress no favor, she finds a way to elevate the material and you completely believe
Jackie Chan is a living legend and its Always Great Seeing Him on screen. He brings warmth and gravitas to the role, but the script does not spend enough enjoy exploring his relationship with li, instead trying too hard to retcon hed to retconer Chan is also not given a chance to show off his martial arts skills in the movie, which seems like a real missed options. It would have been nice to have a Scene where he protects li from the ballies, the way miyagi protected daniel in the first film.
(L to r) Jackie Chan and Ben Wang in Columbia Pictures ‘Karate Kid: Legends’. Photo: Jonathan Wenk. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.
While He has Limited Screen Time, RALPH MACCHIO DOS Have SOME SOON SCENES with Chan, but they Feel More Like-Service Than Rooted in Li’s Story. With miyagi actor Pat Morita Passing Away in 2005, Pairing Macchio with Chan was a Way to Recapture Some of the Magic of the first movie, but it Falls Short of Expectations. One could also criticize macchio’s beLievability as a karate master, but since that is baked into the overall ‘karate kid’ franchise, I digress.
Ming-na wen does her best as li’s mom but is not given any room to really explore the character and never shows about the disapproving mother role. Actor joshua jackson seems to be in a completely different movie and his performance is distraking. Finally, ‘MS. Marvel ‘Actor Aramis Knight is unable to uplift his role and portray connor day as anything more than a generic bully.
Final Thoughts
Ben wang in columbia pictures ‘karate kid: legends’. Photo: Jonathan Wenk. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.
In the end, ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ Works too hard to combine the movie franchise’s two main characters, overlooking the themes of friendship and friendship and mutual reference teacher and mutual respects Throughout the first film. Despite Ben Wang and Sadie Stanley’s Strong Performances, The Movie Ultimately Gets Its Legs Swept Out from Under It.
“When masters unite a new legacy begins.”
76
1 hr 34 minMay 30th, 2025
In Karate Kid: Legends, after a Family Tragedy, Kung Fu Prodigy Li FONG (Ben Wang) is uprooted from his home in beijing and forced to move to new york fitty with … Read the plot
What is the plot of ‘karate kid: legacy’?
In Karate Kid: Legends, after a Family Tragedy, Kung Fu Prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) Is Uprooted from His Home in Beijing and Forsed to Move to new york city with his mother. Li struggles to let go of his past as he tries to fit in with his new classmates, and although he doesn Bollywood to fight, trual seems to find him everywahere. When a new friend needs his help, li enters a karate competition – but his skills alone aren’t enough. Li’s kung fu teacher Mr. HAN (Jackie Chan) ENLISTS Original Kid Daniel Larusso (RALPH MACCHIO) For Help, and Li Learns a new way to fight, merging their two styles into one for the ultimate arts.
Who is in the cost of ‘karate kid: legacy’?
- Jackie Chan as Mr. Han
- Ralph Macchio as Daniel Larusso
- Ben wang as li fong
- Joshua jackson as Victor lipani
- Sadie Stanley as Mia Lipani
- Ming-na wen as Dr. Fong
- Aramis Knight as connor day
- Wyatt oleff as alan
- Shauunette Renée Wilson as ms. Morgan
- William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence
‘Karate Kid: Legends’ Opeens in theaters on May 30th. Photo: Sony Pictures.
